Mortality from road crashes in 193 countries: a comparison with other leading causes of death

This study compared, for each country of the world, the fatalities per population from road crashes with fatalities per population from three leading causes of death (malignant neoplasm, ischaemic heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease) and from all causes. The data, applicable to 2008, came from the World Health Organization. The main findings are as follows: (1) For the world, there were 18 fatalities from road crashes per 100,000 population, as compared with 113 for malignant neoplasm, 108 for ischaemic heart disease, and 91 for cerebrovascular disease. The highest fatality rate from road crashes was in Namibia (45) and the lowest in the Maldives (2). The rate in the United States was 14. (2) For the world, fatalities from road crashes represented 2.1% of fatalities from all causes. The highest percentage was in the United Arab Emirates (15.9%) and the lowest in the Marshall Islands (0.3%). The percentage in the United States was 1.8%. (3) For the world, fatalities from road crashes corresponded to 15.9% of fatalities from malignant neoplasm. The highest percentage was in Namibia (153.9%) and the lowest in the Maldives (1.7%). The percentage in the United States was 7.7%. (4) For the world, fatalities from road crashes corresponded to 16.7% of fatalities from ischaemic heart disease. The highest percentage was in Qatar (123.9%) and the lowest in Malta (1.9%). The percentage in the United States was 10.1%. (5) For the world, fatalities from road crashes corresponded to 19.6% of fatalities from cerebrovascular disease. The highest percentage was in Qatar (529.7%) and the lowest in the Marshall Islands (2.3%). The percentage in the United States was 30.8%. The appendixes list the rates and percentages for each individual country.